Chapter 267 Tax Increase

A little bird that loves to eat watermelon will naturally also love to drink sweet water.

Before leaving, Jiang Fubao didn't find the phoenix on the persimmon tree in the yard, so he went to the backyard to look.

There is still no sign of the phoenix.

She guessed that Feng Huang had gone out to hang out again, so she ignored it.

She tugged at her mother's skirt and stretched out her arms for a hug.

At the beginning of the Chen hour, ox carts entered the city gate.

Jiang Fubao accidentally saw a familiar figure.

It was Wan Zhen. She and Bai Qianshan were seen walking hurriedly towards the dental clinic.

In the middle of the morning hour.

Puffs of white smoke rose from the chimney in the backyard of Jiang's Snack Shop.

The mung bean soup in the pot is boiling.

Jiang Fubao picked up a small chair and placed it under the grape trellis.

She climbed up, but unfortunately, she still couldn't reach a single grape.

A beige butterfly fluttered in front of her.

"You naughty boy, how did you climb onto the chair? Come down quickly, don't fall."

Just as Jiang Fubao was about to reach out to catch the butterfly, her mother's faint voice came from behind her.

Maybe I was afraid of scaring her, so I spoke very softly.

Before Jiang Fubao could turn around, she was taken down from the chair.

When I looked up, I saw my mother's angry face.

"Hehe, I know I was wrong, mother, you are so beautiful today, how can you be so beautiful, you are really the most beautiful mother in the world, no one is as beautiful as my mother, mother, you can't be angry, you are not beautiful when you are angry."

Jiang Fubao's heart trembled, she knew she was going to be scolded.

She stuck out her tongue.

Start to flatter your mother.

Extremely greasy.

"Humph, you just know how to trick me. You can't climb onto the chair anymore, understand? The floor is made of bluestone bricks. What if you accidentally fall and get a bruise on your head? You'll really be a little idiot then. Now, go sit under the persimmon tree and enjoy the cool air. Stop messing around here."

Zhang Yanzi's anger dissipated in an instant.

She really had no idea what to do with Jiang Fubao.

I can't bear to hit him, and I can't bear to scold him.

At most he would give them a lecture with a stern face.

My daughter is still smiling.

If the tone is too harsh, the big crybaby in her family will probably join in.

Zhang Yanzi glanced at Jiang Siyin.

He has been staring at this place.

"Well, Fubao knows, Mom, I will definitely not do this next time. What Mom said is right."

I’ll definitely do it next time!

Jiang Fubao agreed readily, but he didn't think so in his heart.

After carrying her daughter to a place under the tree, Zhang Yanzi washed her hands and continued to knead the dough.

Without a mobile phone to play with or TV to watch, Jiang Fubao was extremely bored. She rested her arms on her legs, supported her cheeks with her hands, and watched the people at home working.

I saw my dad fiddling with the barbecue stove, his face looking pale.

But it can't hide his handsomeness.

Grandma and mother were making meat pancakes, one was in charge of kneading the dough, and the other was in charge of adding meat filling and rolling it into pancakes.

Uncle is making mung bean soup in the kitchen.

Second uncle was stringing meat and vegetables with bamboo sticks.

The eldest and second aunts were also busy. After cleaning, they also prepared cold noodles, side dishes and necessary seasonings.

Everyone is so busy that they can't even raise their heads.

The end of the Chen hour.

The shop just opened.

Guests who had lined up in advance came in one after another.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the second floor was full and there were only two empty tables left on the first floor.

"It's so hot today. The water in the river is almost dried up. I heard that many people in the town want to dig wells in their yards to get water recently, so the well diggers in the city have made a lot of money recently."

After ordering, waiting.

There were three regular customers, chatting loudly.

Jiang Fubao, who was sitting on the doorstep, happened to hear it.

She turned slightly to the side and listened to the gossip.

"I have a little gossip, do you two want to hear it?"

"What news? Of course I have thought about it. Tell me now."

"Brother Wang, hurry up, don't keep us in suspense."

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you, my wife's cousin's great-aunt's nephew's son's good brother is an official in Chang'an Town. I heard that this year's grain tax will be increased by 40%.

Not only that, but every household was required to send one person to repair the riverbank, saying that every drought would bring floods, and that they had to take precautions in advance. If they did not go, they would have to pay a fine of two taels of silver.

The man called Brother Wang half covered his mouth and whispered.

"What? 40%? This is not giving the people a way to survive. The weather is so hot, and the harvest will definitely not be as good as in previous years. If they still increase taxes, the people will have nothing left at the end of the year. Even the poorer tenants will be doomed, right? Oh!"

"Brother Wang, is this true? My wife is from Lijia Village outside the city. If it is true, I have to go to my father-in-law's house and tell him."

"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you? You two have known me for so many years, how can you not understand me? You two should also prepare the silver quickly. The government should come by the beginning of August at the latest, or the end of July at the earliest. It's really expensive. In the past, the fine was at most one tael of silver per person.

Tsk tsk, you see, I only dared to drink a cup of green bean soup today, and I dared not order anything else. Fortunately, my family is doing well. If I were a farmer in the village, I'm afraid I would slap my thigh and cry."

"......"

The three of them chatted more and more excitedly, so much so that Jiang Eryong came over with a tray.

They didn't stop talking either.

Jiang Fubao heard it clearly and she stood up from the doorstep.

"Swoosh——" he ran to the backyard.

Jiang Eryong was so scared that he thought a big fat rat appeared from somewhere.

He didn't feel relieved until he saw the little bell on his niece's head.

“Grandma, Grandma!!”

Jiang Fubao shouted as soon as he arrived in the backyard.

Her big eyes were wide open as she searched everywhere for her grandma.

"What's wrong? What happened to Fubao?" Hearing her granddaughter calling her, Zhang Jinlan hurriedly came out of the toilet holding up her skirt.

"Grandma, I heard someone say that the government wants to raise taxes and require us to do corvée labor. Each family must provide one person. If we don't go, we will have to pay a fine of two taels of silver. Grandma, what is corvée labor?"

The original owner's memory does not contain these.

So she could only pretend not to know.

Jiang Fubao acted innocent and looked at grandma.

"I have to do corvée labor again? Damn it, damn it! It's not long since I paid the fine last time, but now I have to do corvée labor and raise grain taxes. If it doesn't rain today, I can't grow rice. This is denying farmers a way to survive."

The family is no longer short of money.

Zhang Jinlan naturally didn't care about this.

But she also grew up in the village, so she naturally understood the hardships of farmers.

This curse is directed on behalf of the farmers.

After scolding, she did not forget to fasten her belt and wash her hands.

Afterwards, Zhang Jinlan held her granddaughter and sat under a persimmon tree, explaining to her what corvée labor was.

Time passed slowly as she spoke.

In the evening, return home.

Zhang Jinlan told Jiang Shoujia the news.

The latter was silent for a long time.